Electrophotographic photoreceptor and electrophotographic imaging apparatus having the same

Abstract

An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an undercoat layer and a photosensitive layer formed on an electrically conductive substrate, the undercoat layer including an inorganic particle and a nylon binder resin having saturation water absorptivity of 3% or less, and the photosensitive layer including a phthalocyanine-based pigment as a charge generating material, and an electrophotographic imaging apparatus having the same.

1 . An electrophotographic photoreceptor usable in an electrophotographic imaging apparatus, comprising:
 an electrically conductive substrate;   a photosensitive layer formed on the electrically conductive substrate; and   an undercoat layer disposed between the electrically conductive substrate and the photosensitive layer,   wherein the undercoat layer comprises:   a linear alcohol-soluble nylon binder resin having a saturation water absorptivity of about 3% or less.   
     
     
         2 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 1 , wherein the undercoat layer further comprises inorganic particles. 
     
     
         3 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 1 , wherein the linear alcohol-soluble nylon binder resin comprises a nylon binder resin having linear aliphatic hydrocarbon residues between amide bonds in a molecular structure of the nylon binder resin. 
     
     
         4 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 1 , wherein the linear alcohol-soluble nylon binder resin does not comprise a nylon binder resin having cyclic hydrocarbons or aromatic hydrocarbon residues between amide bonds in a molecular structure of the nylon binder resin. 
     
     
         5 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of the inorganic particles is 20-350 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the linear alcohol-soluble nylon binder resin in the undercoat layer. 
     
     
         6 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 1 , wherein the undercoat layer is 0.05 to 10 μm thick. 
     
     
         7 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 2 , wherein the undercoat layer is prepared from a composition including 6% by weight of a nylon 6-66-610 terpolymer binder resin and 9% by weight of the inorganic particle in a mixed alcohol solvent of methanol/1-propanol=8/2 (weight ratio), the composition having the total solids content of 15% by weight, and having a viscosity increase of 10% or less after 1 month has passed after its preparation. 
     
     
         8 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 2 , wherein the inorganic particles are metal oxide particles. 
     
     
         9 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 2 , wherein the inorganic particles are surface-treated with at least one of alumina, zirconia, silica and silicone. 
     
     
         10 . The electrophotographic photoreceptor of  claim 2 , wherein the inorganic particles have an average primary particle diameter of about 10-200 nm. 
     
     
         11 . An electrophotographic imaging apparatus comprising:
 an electrophotographic photoreceptor;   a charging unit that charges a photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor;   a light exposure unit that forms a latent image on a surface of the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor by light exposure using laser light; and   a developer that develops the latent image,   wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor comprises:
 an electrically conductive substrate, 
 a photosensitive layer formed on the electrically conductive substrate, and 
 an undercoat layer disposed between the electrically conductive substrate and the photosensitive layer, 
 wherein the undercoat layer comprises a linear alcohol-soluble nylon binder resin having a saturation water absorptivity of about 3% or less. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the undercoat layer further comprises inorganic particles. 
     
     
         13 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the linear alcohol-soluble nylon binder resin comprises a nylon binder resin having linear aliphatic hydrocarbon residues between amide bonds in a molecular structure of the nylon binder resin. 
     
     
         14 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the linear alcohol-soluble nylon binder resin does not comprise a nylon binder resin having cyclic hydrocarbons or aromatic hydrocarbon residues between amide bonds in a molecular structure of the nylon binder resin. 
     
     
         15 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the amount of the inorganic particles is 20-350 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the linear nylon binder resin in the undercoat layer. 
     
     
         16 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the undercoat layer is 0.05 to 10 μm thick. 
     
     
         17 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the undercoat layer is prepared from a composition including 6% by weight of a nylon 6-66-610 terpolymer binder resin and 9% by weight of the inorganic particle in a mixed alcohol solvent of methanol/1-propanol=8/2 (weight ratio), the composition having the total solids content of 15% by weight, and having a viscosity increase of 10% or less after 1 month has passed after its preparation. 
     
     
         18 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inorganic particles are metal oxide particles. 
     
     
         19 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inorganic particles are surface-treated with at least one of alumina, zirconia, silica and silicone. 
     
     
         20 . The electrophotographic imaging apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inorganic particles have an average primary particle diameter of about 10-200 nm.